1
as in occultism
the power to control natural forces through supernatural means
… an alchemy that changed metals rarer than gold into elements more baneful than lead.—
James Gleick
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2
as in magic
the power to do something impressive in a way that seems mysterious or supernatural
They marveled at the digital alchemy that turns lines of computer code into a beautiful user interface.
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Recent Examples of alchemy
Perched above Los Angeles like a promise, the Hollywood Sign has long stood as shorthand for ambition, illusion and the strange alchemy of fame.
—Anna Kaufman, USA Today, 23 Apr. 2026
For all his musical ability, Christopher loves the alchemy of transforming into a character.
—Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 22 Apr. 2026
Illicit chemists now use methylone’s structure as a template for modern-day alchemy.
—Jonathan Corum, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2026
The Majority agrees, holding that Kalshi’s registration as a DCM and branding of its wagers as sports-event contracts are acts of alchemy that transmute its products from sports gambling to futures trading.
—ArsTechnica, 6 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for alchemy
Anna Kaufman, USA Today, 23 Apr. 2026
For all his musical ability, Christopher loves the alchemy of transforming into a character.
—Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 22 Apr. 2026
Illicit chemists now use methylone’s structure as a template for modern-day alchemy.
—Jonathan Corum, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2026
The Majority agrees, holding that Kalshi’s registration as a DCM and branding of its wagers as sports-event contracts are acts of alchemy that transmute its products from sports gambling to futures trading.
—ArsTechnica, 6 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for alchemy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for alchemy
Noun
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In one example, some teachers are let into the fictional realm of Agartha, which is a key setting in neo-Nazi occultism where everyone is white and blond.—
Owen Carry,
Wired News,
11 Mar. 2026
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The transformation of Tarocchi into a divinatory tool began in the late 18th century, driven by the rise of occultism in France.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
26 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Then, the magic comes in the editing room, piecing together the story to say something bigger than one shot ever could.—
Jared Weiss,
New York Times,
8 June 2026
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As daylight fades, the true magic of a pristine entryway is unlocked through professional architectural lighting.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
8 June 2026
Noun
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Come to Eternia, the mythical home of flying dragon-like creatures, and swords, and sorcery, and spaceships — really, all the stuff a 12-year-old science fiction fanatic loves.—
David Fear,
Rolling Stone,
4 June 2026
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Directed by Travis Knight and based on the Mattel media franchise, the sword-and-sorcery epic stars Nicholas Galitzine alongside Camila Mendes, Jared Leto, and Idris Elba, launching in over 300 locations on Wednesday June 3.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
2 June 2026
Noun
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This Swedish silent film examines the history of witchcraft through a combination of documentary-style explanation and dramatized segments.—
Wesley Stenzel,
Entertainment Weekly,
5 June 2026
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Protagonist Jo’s mother disappeared when Jo was a teen, tainting her daughter with the stain of possible witchcraft.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
2 June 2026
Noun
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Thank goodness for Zach Abrahams, a young Capetonian chef who started in the sister Whichaway Camp, who’s now performing edible wizardry in Echo’s kitchen.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
21 May 2026
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While in the clinic, behind the gee-wizardry of the modern diagnostics and next-generation medications, the practice of endocrinology remains rooted in one person telling their story and the other trying to interpret it.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
20 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Alchemy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/alchemy. Accessed 10 Jun. 2026.
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